Powerful storm kills one, wreaks havoc throughout region

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»Play VideoTraffic plows through high water as it merges onto Interstate 5 in Portland, Ore., Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. A powerful storm pounded the Oregon coast, shutting down marine traffic in and out of several coastal rivers and closing part of highway U.S. 101. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Sgt. Pete Simpson said the officer was participating in all-terrain vehicle training when the incident happened. He said it was likely a weather-related accident.

The officer underwent surgery. His condition was unknown late Monday.

About 24,000 Pacific Power customers lost power during the day's storm. Crews whittled that number down to about 6,000 customers in Clatsop, Lincoln and Coos counties by about 10 p.m. But officials warned that those customers remaining without power Monday night may not get power restored until Tuesday morning. Crews are working to restore power but officials said the weather and other adverse conditions have made it difficult.

In Clackamas County, a homeless woman and her dog were rescued by boat from a campsite surrounded by rising water.

The tree hit the roof, took out part of her deck and the metal overhang. The gash in the roof let in the drenching rain, soaking a kitchen wall, dripping onto a counter and then onto the floor. Construction crews worked to patch the holes.

"It looks like a bomb went off," she said about the damage.

Most of the damage was confined to the kitchen and dining room areas.

KATU Meteorologist Dave Salesky said the bulk of the storm system moved away from the coast Monday afternoon and moved east of the Portland area at around 5 p.m.

At 11 a.m., ODOT officials in Clatsop County asked motorists to postpone or delay trips from Portland and the Willamette Valley to the coast because of falling trees and other hazardous conditions on Highway 26 and Highway 30.

Water was across several roadways near Seaside and elsewhere along Highway 101 through the north Oregon Coast. ODOT officials said two sections of Highway 101 in Clatsop County "remains either closed or restricted due to weather-related issues."

On the Astoria-Megler Bridge on Highway 101, morning high winds caused a semitrailer to overturn, forcing the closure of the bridge. Unsafe conditions prevented crews from clearing the truck, and the bridge remained closed until about 7 p.m.

The National Weather Service said many small streams and rivers could get pushed to flood stage as the storms continue.